Topic: Alternative Energy Off-road Vehicle

[Jeep4banger97]

Hi guys,

For my technical writing course, we have to gather data on a topic of our choice and simulate a real-world report. Me and my group are a company that is doing independent research for Chrysler on the feasibility and demand for a alternative energy 4x4.

If you guys could answer these questions for me i would appreciate it!


•   Do you own an 4x4 vehicle?
•   Is that vehicle a Jeep?
•   How much do you spend in gasoline when you are off-road?
•   Do you think you would benefit from some sort of alternative energy?
•   Would you like to see this technology offered to you in some way?
•   If so, what are you looking to gain from this technology?
•   Are there any downfalls to this technology that you can foresee?


Thanks
John

[sharpxmen]

•   Do you own an 4x4 vehicle? - yes

•   Is that vehicle a Jeep? - yes

•   How much do you spend in gasoline when you are off-road? - never crossed my mind to keep track of how much I spend on gas offroad

•   Do you think you would benefit from some sort of alternative energy? - diesel would be great although is not considered "alternative" fuel, but for us Jeepers would def be an improvement. I think range is more important than cost here but savings are always welcome

•   Would you like to see this technology offered to you in some way? - yes, as an available retrofit - i have no desire in driving a JK

•   If so, what are you looking to gain from this technology? - range and if possible cost savings (or at least to offset the investment)

•   Are there any downfalls to this technology that you can foresee? - would probably be offered only in new vehicles.

[aka-justin]

•   Do you own an 4x4 vehicle? yes
•   Is that vehicle a Jeep? yes
•   How much do you spend in gasoline when you are off-road? $20-40 per trip, the RV towing is way more
•   Do you think you would benefit from some sort of alternative energy?  Lower power cost and possible better traction by design changes.  For instance, 4 indepndent motors, one per wheel.
•   Would you like to see this technology offered to you in some way?  A retrofit to my 4 cyc YJ would be cool (Would have to maintain majority of drivetrain.)  Efficient diesel powered electric (like a train or tractor) maybe a good marriage, would be no need for transmission, replace with electric motor and efficent diesel generator up front.  What ever it maybe should be 50 state legal.
•   If so, what are you looking to gain from this technology? 
•   Are there any downfalls to this technology that you can foresee?  Depends on the power source.

[RT]

Hi guys,

For my technical writing course, we have to gather data on a topic of our choice and simulate a real-world report. Me and my group are a company that is doing independent research for Chrysler on the feasibility and demand for a alternative energy 4x4.

If you guys could answer these questions for me i would appreciate it!


•   Do you own an 4x4 vehicle?
•   Is that vehicle a Jeep?
•   How much do you spend in gasoline when you are off-road?
•   Do you think you would benefit from some sort of alternative energy?
•   Would you like to see this technology offered to you in some way?
•   If so, what are you looking to gain from this technology?
•   Are there any downfalls to this technology that you can foresee?


Thanks
John

1. Yup
2.Yes
3.$20-$40
4.Yes, I would
5.Of course.
6.Increased overall efficency, reduced greenhouse, and the instant torque of an electric system.  
7. To an electric vehicle? Yes, if there isn't a significant infrastructure up already to maintain it than it will be doomed upon release....there would be crowding at fuel/power? stations and noone would have the confidence or the range to do anything with there vehicles other than drive to work and school because of uncertainty of where the next power station may be located. Or excessive distances between power stations.

[jfrabat]

•   Do you own an 4x4 vehicle?
Yes

•   Is that vehicle a Jeep?
Yes

•   How much do you spend in gasoline when you are off-road?
Never really measured it; I spend more driving the Jeep from Panama City, Panama, to San Jos้, Costa Rica every 3 months...  My rig is NOT my primary vehicle, so fuel economy is not my main concearn.

•   Do you think you would benefit from some sort of alternative energy?
If this alternative energy proves to be as or more reliable than the current combustion engine we have, the source of the energy is easily accessible (as in gas stations), and it would provide benefits BESIDES decreasing fuel costs, yes.  If the only benefit is fuel costs, though, I doubt I would invest in such an energy system.

•   Would you like to see this technology offered to you in some way?
Yes, but depending on the benefits, I would decide my course of action.

•   If so, what are you looking to gain from this technology?
Traction, endurance, power.

•   Are there any downfalls to this technology that you can foresee?
How it copes with the kind of elements we throw at it; electrical vehicles would probably have issues if stuck on a mud bug or in the middle of a river.  Also, not being able to find a fuel source in the middle of nowhere could be a problem, especially in Central America.

[DodgeMudder]

•   Do you own an 4x4 vehicle?
Yup

•   Is that vehicle a Jeep?
One of them is

•   How much do you spend in gasoline when you are off-road?
More than I would like to, but not enough to stop me from going

•   Do you think you would benefit from some sort of alternative energy?
Absolutely, propane, diesel, biofuels, all great options

•   Would you like to see this technology offered to you in some way?
Sure as long as it's kept as a choice and not a mandate that is forced upon us.

•   If so, what are you looking to gain from this technology?
Reliability, economy, performance, reduced consumption, less toxic byproducts

•   Are there any downfalls to this technology that you can foresee?
Politicians getting in the middle of it

[jcsanders79]

Yes
Yes
Very little
Alternative fuels is not for those that are looking to save money.  Its more of a evironmental choice.
Doubt I would ever invest in it
Performance or reliabilty would be the only reason.
Its not cost effective 

[Bikerjr1]

•   Do you own an 4x4 vehicle?
•   Is that vehicle a Jeep?
•   How much do you spend in gasoline when you are off-road?
•   Do you think you would benefit from some sort of alternative energy?
•   Would you like to see this technology offered to you in some way?
•   If so, what are you looking to gain from this technology?
•   Are there any downfalls to this technology that you can foresee?

1. yes
2. yes
3. one tank full or so, also I drive to and from on the road.
4. it depends on the cost and is it widely available.  diesel and propane are the only alternate energy sources right now that are out their outside major cities , propane is to bulky vs gasoline/diesel.  electric, batteries weigh are limited and the weight. electric generation (like a diesel train) weight of system and complication of system in off-road environment.
5. yes IF it is lower cost, easier to maintain, and with NO increase in weight.
6. no support outside major cities.  increased cost.  increased weight in the vehicle

[Torch_Ind]

Yes
Yes
Very little
Alternative fuels is not for those that are looking to save money.  Its more of a evironmental choice.
Doubt I would ever invest in it
Performance or reliabilty would be the only reason.
Its not cost effective 

this is pretty much the sum of it..

I find these questions very vague..  if Chrysler asked me this stuff personal I would ask what they had in mind? because it would depend on the advantages and disadvantages of there new systems they were thinking of using?

[BigCountry]

Hi guys,

For my technical writing course, we have to gather data on a topic of our choice and simulate a real-world report. Me and my group are a company that is doing independent research for Chrysler on the feasibility and demand for a alternative energy 4x4.

If you guys could answer these questions for me i would appreciate it!


•   Do you own an 4x4 vehicle?
•   Is that vehicle a Jeep?
•   How much do you spend in gasoline when you are off-road?
•   Do you think you would benefit from some sort of alternative energy?
•   Would you like to see this technology offered to you in some way?
•   If so, what are you looking to gain from this technology?
•   Are there any downfalls to this technology that you can foresee?

Thanks
John

1. yes
2. Jeep YJ
3. Never kept track of fuel costs.
4. I would benefit if it gave me more power.
5. Even if it was offered to me, I would rather stick to the proven method of dropping in a bigger engine.
6. Not looking to personally gain from the technology.
7. Downfalls: if it is a gas-electric hybrid in the current fashion used by toyota and every other hybrid, the batteries add too much weight, and other than braking downhill, not too sure the electric "cruising" motor would do much to impact fuel economy. also if you tend to submerge your rig on a semi regular basis, something is bound to go wrong with all those electronics. also the question of how durable to heavy abuse would they really be? plus it would be really hard to overcome the confidence that people have in gas engines in their current setup, as they are proven to hold up against the trail. also in today's economy, people don't have the money to go buy a new 4x4 so they can wheel and save a little dough on gas. they wheel what they have, and getting rid of that, to drop a bunch of money on an expensive new technology in a new vehicle and then drop money on all the parts so they can get it to the same capability the old rig was, just won't happen unless those individuals have too much money to spend... just my thoughts. i personally wouldn't invest in an alternative energy suv of any type, but especially not in a jeep or offroading vehicle.